Union leaders in Wales today warned that the National Assembly was being judged on its economic success and that other issues were irrelevant if this was not achieved.

Union leaders in Wales today warned that the National Assembly was being judged on its economic success and that other issues were irrelevant if this was not achieved.

David Jenkins, general secretary of Wales TUC, called on delegates to stop criticising the Assembly and to focus on its positive aspects.

He told the Plaid Cymru annual conference in Cardiff, there was an urgent need to raise standards in basic skills and argued that this was the key to improving Wales's economy.

Mr Jenkins, who is the first major union delegate to address a Plaid conference, said: "The Assembly will be judged on the extent to which economic development is achieved.

"Everything else that we value and cherish, be it our language, our culture, our environment, or even just our sense of fun and enjoyment of sport and music, will all count as nothing unless we are able to generate the jobs and prosperity to sustain our communities."

Urging Welsh nationalist members to be more positive about the Assembly, he said: "I know it's become popular in some quarters to talk about the Assembly not achieving very much. The Wales TUC does not share these thoughts."

"My message to this conference is let's concentrate a bit more on acr one priority. This is the key to the developing of the Welsh economy and the generation of new jobs in Wales."

He called on all political parties to work together on improving basic, IT and management skills in Wales.

"This is our main priority at the Wales TUC and it is a priority that must be adopted across the political spectrum," he said.